Fuel-underfeed.



J. N. RICHARDSON.

FUEL UNDERFEED.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. l9l6.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

2 SHIEETSSHEETI.

WHM QM J. N. RICHARDSON.

FUEL UNDERFEED.

APPLICATION men APR. 11. me.

1,260,056. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

wmamy tint s ES AENT FF JOHN N. RICHARDSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLIAM-SON HEATER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

FUEL-UNDERFEED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application filed April 17, 1916. Serial No. 91,808.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN N. RICHARDSON, acitizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, in the countyof Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Fuel-Underfeeds, of which the following specification isa full disclosure.

My invention relates to underfeed heating furnaces and is particularlydirected to a class of furnaces in which an oscillatory fuel chargingcylinder is rocked from a fuel receiving position to a fuel chargingposition in vertical alinement with a central fuel port in the grate,together with means for forcing the fuel upwardly in stepped movementsthrough said port.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved fuelcharging mechanism for forcing the charging plunger or fuel elevatorupwardly in stepped movements while the cylinder is in alinement withthe fuel port combined with means preventing retrograde movement of saidplunger.

Another object is to provide an intermittently operated fuel chargingmechanism consisting of a rack and pawl device and means functioned by arocking of the fuel cylinder to receiving position, for disengaging thepawls to permit the charging plunger to drop, and a brake device for therack to retard the dropping of the plunger.

In these and other features, the invention represents an improvementover the mechanism disclosed in the prior joint application of John N.Richardson and Edward A. Muller, Serial No. 846,486, filed June 22,1914.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a section through the base of the furnace showing thefuel cylinder in charging position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cylinder in fuel receivingposition, with the plunger and its operating rack at the limit of fuelcharging position ready to be released to lower the plunger.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the rack and pawl mechanism in releasedposition.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cylinder.

In the drawings, the combustion chamber 1 has a grate 2 formed with acentral charging port 3 opening vertically into the ashpit 4c, and thefront portion of the ash-pit is formed with an opening 5 through whichthe fuel may be shoveled into the upper end of the container. The floorline is indicated by the lines 6-6 and preferably the ash-pit has thedeepened portion 7 below the floor line. The ash-pit fuel receivingopening 5 is normally closed by a suitable door which need not be shownor described for the purposes of this application.

Upon the inner wall of the ash-pit and upon opposite sides thereof aresecured the brackets 8 having pivots 9, upon which the cylinder isrocked, this horizontal axis being preferably positioned just slightlyabove the floor line. The fuel container or cylinder 10 is formed withextensions 11 projecting radially downward from opposite sides of thebottom of the cylinder, in the lower ends of which the pivots 9 havebearings, thus enabling the cylinder to rock into alternate registrywith the grate port and the fuel receiving opening. The upper and rearperipheral portion of the cylinder is formed with the curved orspherical contoured apron or follower 12, the rear end of which rests onlug 13, defining the vertical position of the cylinder and this apronfunctions to close the grate port when it is moved from the verticalposition, shown in Fig. l, to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2.

Preferably, the apron 12 is additionally connected full length to thewall of the cylinder by the radial web 14 which also forms a convenientstructure for pivotally supporting the lever mechanism which operatesthe piston.

The inner surface of the cylinder and its extensions 11 are formed withthe key seats or guides 15 extending parallel with the axis of thecylinder, and also radially with rela tion to the horizontal axis onwhich'the cylinder rocks. The piston 16 is relatively thin, and itsperiphery is formed with the downwardly extending flanges 17, formedwith the keys 18 extended below the piston and fitting into the keyseats 15. This key seat arrangement preferably extends radially to thearc of cylinder swing. and holds the piston rigidly and accurately atright angles to the axis of the cylinder throughout the piston movementwhen the cylinder is moved to either of its alternate positions. Also,this axially extended key-- seat, provision enables the use of arelatively thin piston, which is desirable when. slack or pulverizedcoal is to be used, as a piston thick enough to prevent tilting wouldinvolve too great dimensions of bearing surfaces, and fine fuel workingin between the peripheral portions of the piston and cylinder wouldcause binding.

Pivotally mounted on the web. 14 is. a rocking lever-type piston rodcomprising. a. rock shaft 19 to which is fixed a lever 20 extendingradially toward the piston center, the inner end being pivotedto link21, which in turn, has its upper end hinged centrally to the under sideof the piston.

Fixed to a portion of the rock shaft 19. is a rock arm 23 the lower endof which is carried to one side of the eylinder,.thelowerend of the arm23 being pivoted to the operating link or bar 24 extending horizontallyout through the ash-pit, the position of this bar 24 relative to thecylinder 1 when rocked to its forward position, is 25 shown in Fig. 2.The cylinder is rocked by means of a link 25, also extendinghorizontally out through the ash-pit, on the same side of the cylinderas bar 24, in order that theouter ends may be so adjacently disposed astobe compactly connected with the operating mechanism in front of theash-pit and preferably to one side of the ash-pit opening. The tiltinglink 25 is pivotally connected to the cylinder. and to a rocker elementor tilting plate 26. Said plate is pivoted at 27, on a base extension28, and is provided with a handle socket for receiving the tiltinghandle 29. 31 represents a fulcrum pin which is secured in the tiltingplate and projects through an elongated slot 30 in the toothed ratchetbar 24, thereby serving as a supportand guide for the outer end thereof.

' Loosely pivotedv on the fulcrum pin 31, be-

tween the tilting plate and the ratchet bar is an oscillatory actuatormember or pawl carrying plate 32, which is provided with a socketreceiving a charging handle 22. Pivoted on this plate above and belowvthe ratchet bar are a pair of actuating p awls or ratchet elements 33,34, which engage the upper-and lower toothed edges 35, 36 of said bar.The pawl 33 is a gravitypawl and the pawl 34 is provided with a pin 38,which projects through a slot 39 formedin the forward arm of a releaselever 37. Said release lever is pivoted on the pin 31 and has a weightedarrn 56'extending to therear of its pivotal point.

This construction, in fact, makes the pawl 34 also a gravitypawl througha seeond element, (the weighted release lever). The pawl 33 has adownwardly projecting arm 42, carrying a pin 41, which is in the path ofmovement of shoulder 40 of the "release 43 at its forward end and by anexamination of Fig. 3, it will beseen that a downward pressure on thefoot plate 43 will rock the release lever 37 and disengage both pawlsfrom their respective toothed edges 35, 36, of the charging bar 24. Suchdisengagement will permit the charger 16 to drop by gravity. To preventthe charger from dropping too rapidly, a retarding device has beenincorporated in connection with the release lever and consists in abrake arm 44, which is secured to the weight arm 56 of the release lever37 and has an inturned lower end projecting beneath the ratchet bar. Thelower edge of the ratchet bar adjacent the teeth is undulated and whenthe release'lever is rocked, (see Fig. 3), the inturned end of the brakearm 44 enga'ges'these undulations, with the effect of retarding thelateral movement of the ratchet bar.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the release lever is inoperative totrip the pawls, because as soon as it is rocked slightly, its forwardend will contact with the-floorplate 50. This would partly'withdraw thepawl 34, but such movement is not sufficient to bring the shoulder 42 oftherelease lever into contact with the pin 41 of, the pawl 30 to rocksaid pawl unless there is sufiicient free play in the parts to permitthe charging handle 22 to rock backward beyond its normal position, asshown in Fig. 1, so that the normal distance between theshoulder 42 andpin 41 would be lessened. To guard against this possible condition, Iprovide a latch lever 51, which is'loosely pivoted on the base plateextension 28, at 52, and is limited in its downward movement by a pin53, engaging "the rearwardly projecting arm thereof. The forward hookedend engages over'a' pin 54 on the pawl carrying plate 32 and retains'itin its normal position. lVhen the tilting plate-'26 is rocked, the pin54 rises into a notch 55 in the latch plate 51, which prevents thecharging handle dropping. forward when the pIawls are tripped.

The piston operating mechanism within the ash-pit is. pivotallyconnectedto the under side ofthe piston and to an exterior portion ofthe cylinderso that it is operatively disposed between the upper'end of the cylinder and'the horizontal axis of the cylinder, and as the" horizontalaxis is closeto the ground line this provision and disposition enablethe piston operating and cylinder rocking mechanisms'to be placed justabove'the floor in front of and'to one side of the ash-pit opening. Thisisnot only a very compact and convenient arrangement adapted forapplicationto household furnacesof ordinary size and structure, but italso enables all these organized operating parts to be disposed in a'vertical'space'replever 37. The release lever has a foot-plate I 7resented by the distance between the grate and the ground or floor line.

It will thus be seen that-the invention comprises a cylinder or fuelcontainer pivoted in the ash-pit for alternate registration with thegrate port, and the fuel receiving opening through the ash-pit, thatthere is a piston or fuel charger reciprocal in the container with levermechanism in the ashpit forming part of the piston elevating means.Exterior of the ash-pit is a main rocking element having a linkconnection with the container for rocking it. All of the exteriorportion of the piston operating means is mounted on this main rockerelement 26 which operates the container. The link bar 24, connected tothe piston lever mechanism within the ash-pit, has its forward ratchetend slotted and guidably supported by the fulcrum pin 31, on this mainrocker element 26, so that this ratchet bar 24: is movable with andslidable on the main rocker element. Substantially all of the actuatingmechanism for this ratchet bar operates on this pin 31 as a center, sothat pin 31 constitutes, as it were, a floating pivot. This ratchet baractuatin mechanism comprises a double pawl lever and a gravity pawlrelease fulcrumed on pin 31. The rocker element 26 swings upwardly toraise this pivot point 31. when the container is moved to fuel receivingposition, and is swung downwardly close to the floor when the containeris moved into registry with the grate port. By reason of the formationof the floor plate 50, and its correlation to the main rocker element.the pawl release mechanism is inop ative when the pin 31 is in its lowerposition. that is. when the container is in registry with the grateport. because in this position it is desirable to positively prevent thepos-ibilitv of tripping or lowering the elevator, while the movement ofthe container to receiving position raises this pin 31 and the pawlrelea e o s ch a o i ion abo e the floor that said release lever 37 mayfunction for lowering the elevator. withcut being lim ted by abutmentwith the floor plate 50.

However. to prevent the main actuator or double pawl lever 20 fromloosely wabbling during the rocking and tripping movements, the latchelement 40 is provided and pivotally supported on the extension 15 andarranged to automatically operate in the cycle of swing of the mainrocker element, to engage and hold the double pawl lever, rendering itsubstantially inoperative except when the container is alined with thegrate port, in which position mainlyit is desirable to elevate thepiston.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a very complete and easilyoperated control for the container and elevator compactly organized anddisposed in front of the ashpit and operative upon mechanical principleseffectually preventing the malfunctioning of the cylinder and piston.

This invention is susceptible, of course, to many different embodimentswithin the basic principles of the invention. Certain features of theinvention disclosed herein are not claimed but constitute thesubject-matter of a separate application filed simultaneously herewith,Serial No. 91,807.

I claim 1. In an underfeed for furnaces having a grate formed with afuel charging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, thecombination comprising a fuel container pivotally mounted in theash-pit, means for rocking said container into alternate registrationwith said port and opening, a fuel charger in the container, a chargeroperating lever mechanism pivotally mounted in the ash-pit to rock withthe container, a link pivoted to said lever mechanism and extendingexterior of the ash-pit, a reciprocating lever mechanism pivotedexterior of the ash-pit, and adapted to be operatively connected with ordisconnected from said link, and means whereby said lever mechanism canbe released from operative connection with said link only when thecontainer is moved toward fuel receiving position.

2. In an underfeed for furnaces having a grate formed with a-fuelcharging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, acontainer pivotally mounted in the ash-pit for alternate registrationwith said port and opening, a' charger reciprocally mounted in saidcontainer, a rocking member pivoted exteriorly of the ash-pit, a linkconnecting said member to the container, said member being rockedupwardly to move the con tainer to fuel receiving position, and beingrocked downwardly to aline the container with the grate port, a doubletooth ratchet bar movable with and slidable on said memher. a doublepawl lever pivoted on said member for operating said ratchet bar, a pawlrelease mechanism also mounted on said member, means rendering said pawlrelease inoperative when said rocking member is in its lower position,and means within the ash-pit operated by the inner end of said ratchetbar for operating the charger.

3. In an underfeed for furnaces having a grate formed with a fuelcharging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, acontainer pivotally mounted in the ashpit for alternateregistration withsaid port and opening, a charger reciprocally mounted in said container,a rocking member pivoted exteriorly of the ash-pit, a link connectingsaid member to the container, said member being rocked upwardly to movethe container to fuel receiving position, and being rocked downwardly toaline the container with the grate port, a double tooth said member, adouble pawl lever pivoted on said member for operating said ratchet bar,a pawl release mechanism also mounted 'onsaid member-,means renderingsaid pawl release inoperative when said rocking member is in its lowerposition, means operating during the rocking of said member to hold saidpawl lever in position, and means within the ash-pit operated by. theinner end-of said ratchet bar for operating the charger.

I 4r. In anunderfeed" for furnaces having a grate formed with a fuelcharging port and an ash-pit having'a fuel receivingopening, a containerpivotally mounted in the ashpit for alternate registration with saidport and opening, a charger reciprocally mounted in said container, arocking member pivoted exteriorly of the ash-pit, a link connecting saidmember to-the container, said member being rocked upwardly to move thecontainer to fuel receiving position, and being rocked downwardly toaline the container with the grate port, a'double. tooth ratchet barmovable with and slidable on said member, a double pawl lever pivoted onsaid member for operating said ratchet bar, a pawl release mechanismalso mounted on said member, means rendering said pawl releaseinoperative when said rocking member is in its lower position, meansactuated by said pawl release to friction brake the forward movement ofthe ratchet bar as the elevator descends, and means within the ashpitoperated by the inner end of said ratchet 7 bar for operating thecharger.

5. In an underfe'ed for furnaces having a grate formed with a fuelcharging port and ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, thecombination comprising a fuel container pivotally mounted in the ash-pitfor alternate registrationwith said port and opening,'a fuel chargerslidably mounted in said container, a rocker element pivoted exteriorlyof the ash-pit, a link connecting said element to the container, meanswithin the ash-pit for operating the fuel charger, a double toothedratchet bar connected to said means and extended exteriorly of the ashpit, the outer end of said bar being m0v ablewith and slidable on therocker element, an oscillatory actuator member pivoted on the rockerelement, a pair of ratchet elements mounted on the actuator member adjacent the opposing toothed edges of the ratchet bar, and a gravity triplever normally engaging one of said ratchet elements to urge'it intoengagement with the ratchet bar teeth and operative to disengage both ofsaid ratchet elements when the fuel container is rocked out of registrywith the grate port.

6.'1n an underfeedfor furnaces having a grate formed with a fuelcharging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening,ithexcombination comprising a fuel container pivotally mounted in theash-pit for alter-- nate registration with said port and open- 'ing, afuel charger slidably mounted in said double toothed ratchet barconnected to saidmeans, and extended exteriorly of the ashpit, the outerend of said bar being movable with and slidable on the rocker element,an

oscillatory actuator member pivoted on the rocker element, a pair ofratchet elements mounted on the actuator memberadjacent the oppositetoothed edges of the ratchet bar, a gravity trip lever normally engagingone of said ratchet'elements to urge it into engagement with theratchetbar teeth and -operative to disengage both of said ratchet elements whenthe fuel container is rocked out of registry with the rate port, andmeans operative during the'rocking of the fuel container to'hold theactuator member against independent movement.

7 In an underfeed for furnaces having a grate formed with a fuelcharging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, thecombination comprising a fuel container pivotally mounted in the ash-pitfor alternate registration with said port and opening, a fuel chargerslidably mounted in said container, a rocker element, pivoted exteriorlyof the ash-pit. a link connecting said element to the container, meanswithin the ash-pit for operating the fuel charger, a double toothedratchet bar connected to said means, extended exteriorly of the ash-pit,the outer end of said bar being movable with andslidable on the-rockerelement, an oscillatory actuator member pivoted on the rocker element, apair of ratchet elements mounted on the actuator member adjacent theopposing toothed edges of the ratchet bar, a gravity trip lever normallyengaging one of said ratchet elements to urge it into engagement withthe ratchet *bar teeth and operative to disengage both of said ratchetelements when the fuel container is rocked out of registry with thegrate port, and means actuated by the trip lever to friction brake theforward movement of the ratchet bar as the charger descends.

8. In an underfeed for furnaces having a grate formed with afuelcharging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, thecombinationcomprising an oscillatory fuel container within the ashpit, afuel charger slidably mounted therein, a rocker element exterior of theash-pit, a motion transmitting link connecting said element to the fuelcontainer, a floating pivot carried by said element, lever mechanismwithin the ash-pit for moving the fuel charger, a charging bar connectedto said mechanism and supported and guided at its outer end on thefloating pivot, means for intermittently translating said bar, devicesfor rendering said means inoperative, said devices and means beingentirely supported by said pivot and oscillated about the pivotal axisof the rocker element.

9. In an underfeed for furnaces having a grate formed with a fuelcharging port and an ash-pit having a fuel receiving opening, thecombination comprising a fuel container pivotally mounted in theash-pit, a fuel charger in the container, operating devices exterior ofthe ash-pit for unitarily rocking the fuel container and charger intoalternate registration with said port and open ing and for independentlyraising the fuel charger in the container through motion transmittingmembers extending into the ash-pit, said devices consisting of a rockerelement for rocking the fuel container, a ratchet feed bar guidinglysupported thereon, an oscillatory actuator member journaled onthe rockerelement, ratchet elements supported on the actuator member on oppositesides of its pivotal support for alternately engaging the opposingtoothed edges of the feed bar to intermittently translate said bar toraise the fuel charger, a trip device for disengaging the ratchetelements enabling a reverse movement of the feed bar and fuel chargerwhen the fuel container is moved out of registry with the grate port,and means for locking the actuator member against independent move- Iment during the rocking and tripping operations, said meansautomatically releasing the actuator member when the container is movedinto registry with the grate port.

10. In an underfeed for furnaces comprising a rocking container andreciprocating charger mounted in the ash-pit, means for independentlyoperating the container and charger comprising a main rocking elementpivoted exterior of the ash-pit and operatively connected to thecontainer, a bar, the outer end of which is mounted to move with andslide on said main rocking element, and the inner end of which isoperatively connected to said charger, actuating mechanism for said barmounted on said rocker element and comprising means for moving said barforward intermittently to step raise the charger, means enabling saidbar to be returned, said means being rendered inoperative when thecontainer is in fuel charging position, and means operatingautomatically to position the bar actuating means when the main rockingelement is functioned.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor 11. In a fuel underfeed havinga grate formed with a fuel charging port, a container pivotally mountedunder the grate and movable into registry with said port or into fuelreceiving position, a reciprocal charger in the container, a leveroperatively connected to the charger, a rocking actuator, parallellinks, having their inner ends connected to said container and to saidlever, and their outer ends connected to said rocking actuator, means onthe actuator for independently operating the charger link, operative forraising the charger when alined with the grate port and rendered0perative for dropping the charger when the rocking actuator is moved tofuel receiving position.

12. In a fuel underfeed having a grate formed with a fuel charging port,a container pivotally mounted under the grate and movable into registrywith said port or into fuel receiving position, a reciprocal charger inthe container, a lever operatively connected to the charger, a rockingactuator, parallel links having their inner ends connected to saidcontainer and to said lever, and their outer ends connected to saidrocking actuator. means on the actuator for operating the charger linkto raise the charger in step movements when the container is in registrywith the grate port, and to drop the charger when the container is infuel receiving position, and means controlled by said rocking actuatorpreventing the charger from being dropped when the container is not infuel receiving position.

13. In a fuel underfeed having a grate formed with a fuel charging portand an ash-pit wall formed with a fuel receiving opening, a container inthe ash-pit movable into alternate registration with said port andopening, a reciprocal charger in the container, means for shifting thecontainer, charger operating mechanism having an actuator movable inshort, reciprocal, pumplike strokes to raise the charger in definitesteps, and means for disconnecting said actuator for dropping thecharger, said disconnecting means being rendered operative only when thecontainer is in fuel receiving position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the twosubscribing witnesses. 7

JOHN N. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

EMMA SPENER, L. A. BECK.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. Q.

